Softbank Ad "Encourages Bullying"

[Mulboyne]

[YT]0SKF54N0e6Y[/YT]
Mainichi: TV viewers complain that SoftBank ad might encourage bullying
A significant number of TV viewers have lodged complaints about an advertisement for SoftBank Mobile services, saying it might encourage bullying. The humorous ad features four female university students -- dressed and groomed almost identically -- chatting near a tennis court. One student proposes to the group, "Let's call each other and talk about the game." But one of the young women says, "That's OK, you don't have to. You'll have to pay if you call me." To which the first student says, "Oh, that's right, you're not a SoftBank user." The ad then explains the fees for SoftBank's Mobile services over a subtitle that reads, "Please respect your friends"...In some online chat sites, several users asked sarcastically, "Can't we be friends with someone if we don't use cost-free mobile phone services?"

[Taro Toporific]

Don't worry about Softbank. Now bullies can be put on double secret probation but not expelled.


[INDENT]Abe instructs use of measure to suspend bullies from schools
(Kyodo) Monday January 22, 1:00 PM ---Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told education minister Bummei Ibuki on Monday to make use of a policy of suspending bullying students from schools -- a prescription to be proposed by a government panel this week to stem bullying at schools, Ibuki said.
"I want you to speedily notify every education board by organizing what can be done under current laws," Ibuki quoted Abe as telling him during their talks at the prime minister's official residence.
Suspending students who bully others at schools has pros and cons among educators as it concerns the rights of students to receive an education, but Abe's willingness to rely on the method is likely to affect policies implemented at schools.
Abe separately told reporters he told Ibuki to provide thorough guidance to children who bully schoolmates because "we have to get schools and classrooms back to where fathers, mothers and children can feel safe." ...more...[/INDENT]

[IkemenTommy]

Funny because this hardly reflects the reality as most people I know have Docomo. Even with the MNP, I don't see the huge rush to switch to Softbank.